Preparing for a dyslexia assessment: what to gather and what to ask

Before an adult assessment, it helps to write down specific, dated examples of reading and writing in daily life, gather school reports and any past assessments, and get recent sight and hearing checks. Before booking, ask the assessor about qualifications, what the report will contain, and whether it will be accepted for your purpose.

Collect school reports and past assessments

The BDA says it is important for assessors to know about any previous assessments or study support, partly to avoid repeating tests, which may make results invalid.^[2] So if you have had any earlier testing, even years ago, tell the assessor when you book, not on the day.

• Old school reports, exam certificates and teacher comments, if family members kept them.
• Any past assessment reports, special education plans, IEPs or 504 plans in the United States, or records of exam access arrangements.
• Records from a former college disability or learning support service.
• Letters from employers about workplace adjustments.

If you no longer have copies, you can ask the school, college or local education authority what records they keep and how to request them; retention rules vary by country and institution. Missing records are common: the BDA's employer guide notes that some adults were diagnosed as children but no longer have evidence of it.^[7] In the United States, Department of Justice guidance on testing accommodations says the absence of previous formal accommodations does not stop a candidate from receiving them, and that informal accommodations in a person's history should be considered.^[8]

Check the report will work for your purpose

The same diagnosis can be documented in ways that one organization accepts and another does not. A few examples of how rules differ by country and setting:

• England, university funding: GOV.UK says a Disabled Students' Allowance application for a specific learning difficulty needs a diagnostic assessment from a practitioner psychologist or a suitably qualified specialist teacher.^[9]
• UK, assessor credentials: The SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC) recommends that specialist teacher assessors hold a current Assessment Practising Certificate (APC), which must be renewed every three years; for psychologists, SASC points to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).^[10] SASC publishes a register of current APC holders.^[11] The BDA says both specialist teachers and psychologists can diagnose dyslexia, and that a psychologist may be engaged where someone has more complex or multiple needs.^[12]
• Exams covered by JCQ rules (UK): JCQ guidance says an external assessor's report can only be used as evidence for exam access arrangements if the assessor liaised with the school or college and received the paperwork before the assessment took place.^[13]
• United States, colleges: The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights says schools may set reasonable documentation standards, some ask for more than others, and documentation may need to include the date of diagnosis, how it was reached, and the credentials of the professional.^[14]

The practical step is to ask the organization first. Email the university disability service, the exam centre, the licensing body or your employer, ask what evidence they accept, and forward their answer to the assessor before you book.

Questions to ask before booking

On the day

The BDA says its diagnostic assessments usually take up to three hours and cover reading, writing and spelling as well as skills such as phonological awareness, processing speed and memory. It suggests bringing your own refreshments and pens.^[2] It also says the assessor may share initial thoughts afterward but needs time to score and analyze results before the written report.^[2]

Bring your log, any records, glasses if you use them, and a list of the questions you most want answered. If you are tired, unwell or anxious, say so; assessors would rather know. After the report arrives, read it with a highlighter and write down anything you want explained before your follow-up conversation.